REIHATA’s first encounter with BABY-G.

I was about 18 or 19 and totally into skateboarding and skater fashion. You can’t exactly pull out your phone to check the time when you’re skating, right? That’s when I started wearing a watch. There are thousands of watches out there, but I thought the best fit for my lifestyle was one that was reasonably priced for a young person and that stood up to active use. So at about 18 or 19, I started wearing a BABY-G.
Since I wear bold, flashy clothes — nothing monotone — I started with a black BABY-G and a white BABY-G. I would put together outfits with these watches, like, the one cool thing, here on my wrist.
I could be wearing a really girly outfit or something patterned from a second-hand store — and just adding one of those watches really ties it all together. But recently, with all the new BABY-G designs and collabs, the BABY-G itself is getting to be the main fashion item. I’ve bought them in tie-dye, marbled patterns, pastels…

What BABY-G means to RIEHATA.

It used to be there was this idea that BABY-G was for active people, or people who love sports. But lately a wider range of people are wearing them: dancing, running, and going to the gym with their BABY-Gs on. I see women who are into cutesy “kawaii fashion” wearing pink and pastel BABY-Gs. The overall image has really changed over the past few years.

What kind of BABY-G did you create?

I wanted to make a cool watch, where just putting on anything from the BABY-G BA-130 line would be like adding these street elements to fashion, or make you feel like you can be your own awesome self. And you know how you’re always looking at your watch? My first thought was to have this positive “Catch the Vibe” message that would pump you up and get you motivated every time you looked at your wrist.

What was your design focus?

I wanted something that stands out, but doesn’t get in the way. I love aqua and pale pink, so I used those on my watches. Neither colour is especially vivid, so they go with bright, loud fashion (like mine!), and at the same time can make a great accent with simpler, more monotone styles, too.
I really, really wanted to include a message on these watches — and I got to do just that. The phrase “Catch the Vibe” is right there on the band where it’ll catch your eye as you wear it. The font has this slightly ’90s retro feel for an unexpected look.
I was all about the details, even down to the watch hands. I like it when everything shares the same colour tone, so the translucent blue watch has darkish blue writing, and its part of the hands is blue. And the part of the hands of the translucent pink watch is coloured in pink.
The totally clear watch is the real curveball. Unlike the pink and blue, it feels like a watch you’d wear when you want to feel cool or even glamorous.
I think white watches are really awesome, but they have so much presence that it’s hard to coordinate around them. But a clear watch will go with any outfit, and the gold accents really stand out. Besides, that clear look is so incredibly cute! I said I’d like to make one of those, too, and I wound up directing all three colour variations. I think just about anyone can wear the clear model, from luxe grown-up types to dancers to fans of street fashion. And it’s great for all ages, too.

How do you coordinate your fashion with these watches?

The pink watch would go great with anything cute or patterned. Think flowers, plaid, schoolgirl chic. Of course, it’d also coordinate well with mannish baggy denim and a simple white T-shirt, too.
The blue watch is a good fit for vintage or second-hand fashion. I like it as an accent when wearing denim or earth tones like khaki or beige. Here I’m wearing mine with a cardigan for a girly look, but I want to try wearing it with opposing colours, too. I also think the blue would really look great with head-to-toe denim, too. And maybe this is just a dancer thing, but I like wearing tracksuits. When I do, the watch on my wrist really pops. The blue BABY-G would be cool with a tracksuit in white, pastel tones, or grey.
I almost never wear black or white outfits, but I think the clear watch is amazing with an all-black monotone look, especially when paired with gold accessories. Here I am trying it out for myself.
It doesn’t feel right, putting on a colourful watch with a formal jacket. But since the clear watch has such a luxurious feel, you can treat it like jewellery. I can’t wait to wear mine with a black jacket, a white dress…

Fashion and music are crucial for dancers.
RIEHATA produces and sings a special song for BABY-G.

One of the inspirations for these watches was the super bright and cheerful music of the ’90s and early ’00s. I created the song “Catch the Vibe,” with its exciting hip-hop beat, to get across the watches’ worldview through music and dance. Putting on a watch from the BABY-G BA-130 line makes you feel all “Here we go!” and “I get the feeling that today’s gonna be a good day!” Because I wanted people to see that kind of positive, pump-up message every time they looked at their watch, I wrote lyrics like “I’m gonna go see him in the morning” and “Now I’m getting ready — it’s gonna be a good day” and paired them with a throwback beat à la TLC or Salt-N-Pepa for a sunny track right out of that era. I hope people will listen to it as they leave the house wearing their BABY-G BA-130 line watch. Really: consider the song part of the package! It’ll actually make you happy; I think even people who aren’t dancers will get the urge to dance along. I bet their hearts will be dancing, at least!

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PROFILE

RIEHATA

Japanese and international artists alike, including Chris Brown, Omarion, BTS, BoA, AI, and EXILE, have dancer-artist choreographer RIEHATA on speed dial.With her innovative groove, tremendous power, and sheer expressiveness, the "Queen of Swag" continues to captivate fans around the world.

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